March checklist
- Finish deciduous pruning before buds break
- Begin conifer pruning as early spring arrives
- Water on thawed ground when temperatures are above 40 F
- Pull winter-broken limbs and stubs from trees
- Look for leaning trees or heaved soil after thaw
- Book spring removals and stump grinding
- Start clearing leaf litter from Zone 0
Reno's mean temperature jumps 6 degrees from February to March, but the Tahoe shore does not: Glenbrook reaches only 37.1 F, and its 2.62 inches of March precipitation is more than five times Fallon's 0.50. Same month, very different trees.
March weather at five stations
Minden averages 3.4 inches of snow in March, more than twice Carson City's 1.6 inches. Reno gets 2.9. Carson City's March precipitation of 1.24 inches is the largest of its spring and more than double April's 0.51. March is the last wet, cold month for the valleys.
| Station (elevation, ft) | Mean temp (F) | Precip (in.) | Snow (in.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reno airport (4,410) | 46.6 | 0.80 | 2.9 |
| Carson City (4,761) | 43.9 | 1.24 | 1.6 |
| Minden (4,709) | 42.5 | 1.25 | 3.4 |
| Glenbrook (Tahoe) (6,350) | 37.1 | 2.62 | no normal |
| Fallon (3,965) | 44.6 | 0.50 | 0.3 |
Station normals, not town averages. NOAA flags Glenbrook's temperature normals as reduced completeness and publishes no snowfall normal there.
What the trees are doing
Buds swell as nights approach freezing, and roots become active as the soil thaws. A late snow that lands on a tree with swelling buds is still a snow load.
Jobs that fit March
Complete the deciduous pruning you booked in February before the buds break. Conifers can now be pruned, since most pines and spruces are done in early spring and summer rather than winter. Removals and stump grinding can be booked now, ahead of the summer calendar. Dead trees and hazards are on the calendar any month. When you water, University of Nevada, Reno Extension asks for temperatures above 40 F and no snow or ice on the soil.
Watch for storm and thaw damage
Wet late snow can break limbs that survived January. After a storm, stay out from under bowed limbs and call 775.232.8243 for large or high ones; we have 24-hour emergency service. If anyone is hurt, call 911. If a line is involved, stay away and call NV Energy first. See the morning-after guide.
Valley versus lake
At Tahoe the dormant season is far from over: Glenbrook's March mean of 37.1 F is below the Reno airport's February. Hold off on anything that depends on thawed soil. Estimates are free, and the office at 775.232.8243 can talk through timing for your trees. A certified arborist assesses every job before work begins.
Sources
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, monthly (Reno airport USW00023185, Carson City USC00261485, Minden USC00265191, Glenbrook USC00263205, Fallon Exp Stn USC00262780) (pulled October 17, 2026)
- International Society of Arboriculture, Trees Are Good: Pruning Your Trees (read October 17, 2026)
- University of Nevada, Reno Extension: Should I Water my Trees in the Winter? (Jensen, 2026) (read October 17, 2026)
- University of Nevada, Reno Extension: Living With Fire (SP-23-07) (read October 17, 2026)
- NV Energy: Trees and power lines (read October 1, 2026)